Barred for Life

To several generations of fans around the world, legendary punk band Black Flag’s four-bar logo is a potent symbol of rebellion against cultural norms. A diehard devotee himself, photographer and author Stewart Ebersole traveled around North America and Europe in 2009 to shoot portraits of the band’s most loyal followers: those who have had the Black Flag logo permanently inked onto their skin. In his book, Barred For Life: How Black Flag’s Iconic Logo Became Punk Rock’s Secret Handshake, Ebersole pairs portraits of tattooed punks, young and old (including former Black Flag band members themselves), with interviews about their experiences in the scene. With interviewees from a wide range of age groups and cultural backgrounds, the book offers insight into how punk grew from a demonized, radical lifestyle to a widespread form of self-expression for disaffected youth. On August 1, Ebersole will present Barred for Life at 1-2-3-4 Go! Records (420 40th St., Ste. 5, Oakland) and show some of his original photography.